Quoted:
Is there much value in using an IR only laser on handguns in conjunction with monocular NVG?
Would using regular night sights, combined with monocular NVG, allow the brain to "super imose" both images?
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IR only laser on handguns can be useful with NV, while shooting in traditional "stances" and even more helpful for unorthodox positions, where you can't necessarily orient your pistol out and extended.
Using regular night sights over your dominant eye and night vision over the non dominant eye, absolutely does not work. (meaning not relying on your monocular eye to get the sight picture) Your brain doesn't superimpose the two images together. I have heard people argue it on here before, but believe me I have tested this theory with myself and multiple other students until I am blue in the face. Can you get rounds on paper on a human silhouette at 3 or 5 yards? sure, it isn't going to be with precision though. But that's not because your brain merges the images together to be useful. It's because your bodies natural ability to be able to line up the pistol at center mass at short distances.
I am a huge fan of using red dot optics on pistols for night vision. I like this method and prefer it over an IR laser on the pistol, because I can use my red dot optic during day or night firing, whereas with the IR laser, I can only use it with night vision. For me, I can justify the red dot method over the IR laser, when it comes to a pistol.